In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you.

Dear sisters, welcome!

I welcome you with great joy, at this important moment for your Congregation. I greet the superior general elect – who is it? There she is… I greet you and offer my prayers. I congratulate her and commend her to the Lord, along with the sisters entrusted with advising and assisting her in her service. You are all the “council”! Good!

The General Chapter of a religious family is always a privileged setting for the Holy Spirit to act for the good of the People of God. During these days of grace that you have experienced, in an attitude of docility to His inspirations, you have practised communal discernment, which is in itself an edifying experience. The fruits of your listening – to God and to one another – are the most beautiful gift you bring me today: like a basket of early fruits, which together we wish to offer to the Lord.

Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret had understood very well the importance of this “giving together” in the Church, showing, throughout her life, great love and respect for the Successor of Peter, even at the cost of facing painful misunderstandings and sacrifices for the good and unity of those entrusted to her care.

Dear sisters, the theme you have chosen for your work, “Rooted in Christ, on a mission in the world”, is a very beautiful one. It describes in a fitting way the essence of your consecration and of your apostolate. To be rooted in Christ means, in fact, following the example of Saint Jeanne Antide, to place Him alone at the centre of one’s existence and thoughts, growing accustomed to sensing and celebrating His presence at every moment, confident that, united to Him, we will grow ever closer to one another and be better able to help others according to His plans.

In this regard, I would like to emphasize another important aspect of the charismatic legacy left to you by your saintly Foundress: to pay attention to the integral good, spiritual and temporal, of one’s neighbour. I mention this because, in a society such as ours, which tends to fragment the person, dividing people not only from one another but also and more gravely within themselves, this dimension of charity is fundamental for the restoration, promotion and authentic respect for the dignity of every person, especially the poorest and most in need (cf. Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 186). Treasure it, nurture it and spread it.

Dear sisters, in this bicentenary year of the passing of Saint Mother Thouret to Heaven, it is consoling to see how much the Lord has blessed and accompanied your journey over the years. This is borne out by the richness and variety of your apostolic outreach, now present in thirty-two countries, where you keep the “charism of Charity” alive through the work of sisters, lay people, young people, volunteers and collaborators of all ages and backgrounds.

Continue your work with generosity: it is precious in the eyes of God and the Church. Thank you for what you do! Entrusting you to the intercession of the Virgin Mary and of Saint Jeanne-Antide, I bless you with all my heart. Thank you.